Snacks

In October, it was my turn to host cooking club. This is a fun monthly get together that a few girls from our church and other friends in Huntsville go to. The host can either pick a restaurant to “host” at since a lot of us have younger kids and cleaning your house is more stressful these days, and those who want to attend RSVP, just attend like a girl’s night out. If you as the host decide to host at your house, you can pick a theme if you want, and then you can also pick all of the recipes that everyone who comes will make. Then you eat all of the recipes potluck style. So once you know how many people will come, you can assign them the recipes. You as the guest, make the dish you were assigned, and everyone is given a copy of each recipe. It is a great way to try 8+ recipes, and if you like one, you don’t have to ask for a copy because you already have one.

My dad has been eating Vegan for a while, and when my parents came for a visit they brought a bunch of these treats for him to snack on. I tried them and thought they were super yummy. Since I can’t eat lots of diary with Reese, I will make these occasionally since they are very grab and go! I hope you enjoy them.

First add your ripe bananas to your bowl.

Then add your old fashioned oats.

Next add your chopped dates.

I added craisins next.

Then add the chopped nuts of your choice, I did pecans here.

Add your dash of salt.

Add the cinnamon in too.

Then vanilla extract.

I used oil here,but you can use applesauce in stead, see the directions below.

Stir really well and let sit for about 15 minutes for everything to get nice and congealed.

Bake in the oven at 350F for 20 minutes, and do not over bake.

Then enjoy and store in the refrigerator.

Healthy Vegan Treats

3 ripe bananas (mashed)

2 cups old fashioned oats (not minute oats)

1 cup (or so) of nuts (any kind, unsalted and chopped)

½ cup dried cranberries(or more)

1 cup dates (chopped)

⅓ cup oil (canola,etc.) or ⅓ cup applesauce*

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Dash of salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and let sit for 15 minutes. With a cookie dough scoop (medium sized) scoop out about 24 balls. Put onto ungreased cookie sheet. They can be put very close together, almost touching since they don’t expand. Bake at 350 Degrees Farenheit for 20 minutes. DO NOT overbake – they will dry out and not taste good then. Store in the refrigerator.

*If using applesauce, they don’t stick together as well. It’s harder to form into balls and don’t taste as good. You can always do some oil and some applesauce to make them stick better.

I have always been a sucker for corn dogs. They are one of those things that are super gross,but I still love them in the deepest, darkest part of my heart. So when someone posted on the Keto Recipes Reddit THIS recipe I was intrigued. It looks really good,but I didn’t have any of the unflavored gelatin or beef broth at the time. I am sure this recipe is great because all of hers are, but I was in the mood for an almond flour based recipe.

When my Cousin Simon and his Wife Sarah were in town one time, Sarah mentioned how she had been making homemade granola bars. She was telling me about all of the different recipes she was trying. We weren’t buying that many granola bars at the time, but I kept my eyes open for a good recipe. ThisBlog posted a recipe that looked pretty tasty to me, and I happened to have all of the ingredients so I gave it a shot. I thought they turned out really really well. Next time I make them, I will make a few adjustments, but those are because of personal preference not because I didn’t think the original recipe wasn’t good. If I had kids, I would definitely make these one a regular basis to put in lunches or for snacks.

Grant is really good about eating most fruits and vegetables that I prepare for him. He gets reallyÂ squeamishÂ if anything doesn’t look 100% pristine, and if we aren’t in the mood for smoothies, I have made fruit leather a few times. I wouldn’t say that it is very cost effective if you go out and buy fruits for it,but if you have everything and want a way to use it up, this is a great way. Below are the step by step instructions that I used.